The Failure Of Korea During World War II

During Japanese colonization, large population was set aboard to serve in factories, mining and military army. After liberation, more than half of these people returned to Korea. However, many lands of theirs were occupied, leading to a large number of homeless. They also had difficulty in finding jobs. These resulted in high unemployment rate and political instability. Since Japan was defeated by the Allied during World War II, no single organization could claim credit and gain control of the state. Though a number of leaders of group, such as Kim Il Sung, Kim Ku, Syngman Rhee and Pak Honyong, emerged trying to lead the state, none of them succeeded. [1]

The dispose of Korea as Japan’s colonial possession was determined in Cairo conference

Upon the request of US, the United Nations formed the United Nations Temporary Commission on Korea (UNTCOK) for supervising the election of an independent Korea government. However, Soviet Union did not allow UNTCOK to enter the North, leading to the failure in unification and the establishment of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). In the two states, Syngman Rhee and Kim Il Sung gained their political powers.

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After the Korean War, Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established which separates two Korean states apart. People in the North could not go to the South, and vice versa. This tore numbers of families apart from each other. Not to say meeting each other, the communication by means of telephone and letters between two states was totally blocked. Many of them had not seen their families until the moment they died. And even until not, the only opportunity of crossing the DMZ to the other side of Korea is through the aid of Red Cross. [5]

After the war, Rhee put a lot of effort in eliminating his rivals and opponents. He gained enormous political powers and had an imperial role in the state. Because of the war, Kim Il Sung also gained support from the his people.